TWO ARRAIGNED: A husband and his wife have been arraigned after Calhoun County Sheriff Department deputies raided their Emmett Township home on Tuesday. John Neal, 40, is charged with stealing electric power from Consumers Energy and obstructing police. His wife, Ashley Neal, 24, was arraigned on a charge of obstructing police. John Neal faces up to life in prison because of six prior felony convictions. His wife faces up to two years in prison. Deputies said they were called to the home at 13471 Beadle Lake Road to investigate a report of stolen property. Deputies saw that electric service was being stolen from Consumers and then obtained a search warrant and found thousands of dollars in stolen gift cards, computers, generators, prescription medication and wire and braided cable from Consumer Energy substations. Deputies also found several pounds of suspected marijuana and methamphetamine and Captain Art Draper said he expects additional charges after laboratory tests are conducted.

Ashley Neal(Photo: Trace Christenson/The Enquirer)

TWO ARRESTED: Two Battle Creek men, ages 31 and 49, were arrested after Calhoun County Sheriff Department deputies said they were linked to a burglary at the M-66 Bowling Alley, 19794 Capital Ave. N.E. in Pennfield Township. Deputies said they were called about 3 a.m. Saturday and found the building had been entered and suspects had fled. The men were arrested after their car was stopped a short distance from the bowling alley. Since then deputies said Tuesday that the younger man has been tied to break-ins at Lafayette Auto Parts in Springfield, the Moonraker Restaurant in Emmett Township, and Cornwell’s Turkey Farm in Convis Township. Deputies said a sledge hammer was used to break glass to enter the business and then smash coin vending machines to take money. Deputies said Wednesday they expect additional charges will be filed.

ARSON: A boy, 10, was taken to the Calhoun County Juvenile Home after Battle Creek police said he attempted to burn his home. Police and Bedford Township firefighters were called to the 500 block of Pettycoat Lane in Bedford Township at 5:45 p.m. Monday. The boy’s mother, 33, said she was on the phone and smelled smoke and found that the boy had started a fire with several pieces of paper. The fire was out and only some carpet damaged. Police said the boy had broken his mother’s arm in August and told her he should have broken the other and that he wanted her to die so he set the fire.

SPITTING ARGUMENT: A woman, 48, said she was spit on by a man who was buying lottery tickets at the Citgo Gas station at 2410 W. Michigan Ave. Officers were called at 10:36 a.m. Saturday after the woman said she was standing in line and the man ahead of her playing numbers and was not filling out a betting slip. She said she made a comment about it and she had a verbal exchange with the man who then threatened to assault her. When he finished with his numbers, the woman said the man spit in her face and left.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Battle Creek police said they are seeking a warrant after a woman, 30, said she was grabbed by the neck by her husband and thrown to the ground. The man said in a telephone call that he was frustrated and that he did it.